Dead birds force shutdown of Texas city

January 09, 2007|By FROM NEWS SERVICES

AUSTIN, Texas — Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown on Monday morning after dozens of birds were found dead in the streets, but officials said preliminary tests showed no air quality problems, and the area reopened around 1 p.m.

As many as 60 dead pigeons, sparrows and grackles were found overnight along Congress Avenue, a main route through downtown. No human injuries or illnesses were reported.

"We do not feel there is a threat to the public health," said Adolfo Valadez, the medical director for Austin and Travis County Health and Human Services.

He said preliminary air-quality tests showed no dangerous chemicals, though the dead birds would be sent for further testing to rule out viruses or poison.

Experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society said the most likely cause was a deliberate poisoning of the troublesome grackles, which is more common than people think.

It's also legal, with local permits, said Greg Butcher, director of bird conservation at the Audubon in Washington.

Austin officials were smart to take it so seriously, though, Butcher said, because birds' "requirements for life are pretty similar to our requirements for life" so they can serve as an early warning for risks to human health.

Valadez said the tests, expected to take several days, would look for signs of poisoning or viral infections, though he said officials do not think bird flu is involved.